EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Draft Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill

Ruth Kelly: Following the publication of our consultation response "Parental Separation: Children's Needs and Parents' Responsibilities: Next Steps" on 18 January, I am pleased to say that the draft Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill is today being presented to Parliament.
	This Bill takes forward the commitment we made in the Green Paper "Parental Separation: Children's Needs and Parents' Responsibilities" to provide the courts with more flexible powers to facilitate contact and enforce contact orders.
	At present, contact orders can be enforced only through contempt of court proceedings leading to fine or imprisonment. Courts have quite rightly been reluctant to use these measures because of the potential negative impact on the children involved. That is why they need more flexible, more realistic powers, of the sort that this Bill will provide. It will allow the courts, at any stage, to:
	Refer parents to resources including information meetings, meetings with a counsellor, orparenting programmes/classes designed to deal with contact disputes;
	Attach conditions to orders which may require attendance at a given class or programme;
	And where an order has been breached, the courts will also be able to:
	Impose community-based orders for unpaid work or curfew;
	Award financial compensation from one parent to another where the actions of one inbreaching a contact order have caused real financial loss to the other.
	In addition, the Bill will provide more clarity in the law about the mechanism by which inter-country adoptions from individual countries may be suspended where there are concerns about child welfare.
	I believe that this draft Bill, alongside the wider programme of reform set out in our Green Paper and the response document published on 18 January, will make a real difference to the family justice system in this country, and help provide better outcomes for children and families faced with the difficulties of parental separation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Embassy (Kinshasa)

Chris Mullin: In light of continuing instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the fragile security situation in Kinshasa, the Government have authorised the deployment of armed guards to our British Embassy in Kinshasa in order to safeguard embassy staff and ensure the mission can continue to operate.
	The Government take seriously their obligations to contribute to peace and security in the DRC. We have a development programme for the DRC worth £34 million for the financial year 2004–05. Upgrading the security of our embassy will enable staff to continue to contribute to the peace process in the DRC. The DRC Government have been informed of our intention and is content with the arrangements we propose to protect our staff.
	A UN arms embargo, targeting rebel groups operating in the east of the country, has been in place on the DRC since 28 July 2003. An EU embargo has been in place on the country since 7 April 1993. We fully support these measures and have informed the UN DRC Sanctions Committee and EU partners of the deployment.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Criminal Records Bureau

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) proposes to introduce measures to reduce the number of organisations currently registered with the CRB, through the setting of an annual threshold for the submission of disclosure applications by registered bodies. At present there are some 13,000 organisations registered with the CRB of which just 20 per cent. process 80 per cent. of all disclosure applications.
	Setting an annual threshold will be a key part of the CRB's strategy to enhance the efficiency of, and improve standards within, the registered body network. Those organisations that remain registered will be better equipped to carry out their responsibilities under the CRB code of practice, receiving enhanced support and assistance from the CRB in carrying out their obligations. We shall consult widely with registered bodies and other stakeholders prior to the change.
	The CRB and its major stakeholders recognise that public safety and the integrity of the disclosure service relies upon the widespread adoption of robust internal processes by registered bodies, particularly in terms of properly verifying the identity of disclosure applicants, ensuring that eligibility criterion are met, and forms are completed correctly.
	The current assurance and compliance regime has highlighted that a significant number of registered bodies do not, for one reason or another, comply with all of the CRB's key guidelines or the CRB code of practice. A more compact registered body network, working in greater partnership with the CRB and composed of high-volume users would allow the CRB to focus its resources more effectively to improve compliance and support the evolving role of registered bodies.
	The CRB remains committed to providing appropriate means of access for those organisations that wish to continue to use the disclosure service, and will work with in partnership with low-volume users to find alternative arrangements that best suits their requirements; keeping cost and bureaucracy to a minimum.
	The introduction of such a threshold will be subject to a formal consultation process followed by the laying of regulations under sections 120AA and 120ZA Police Act 1997.

PRIME MINISTER

Downing Street Engagements

Tony Blair: I have today placed in the Library of the House a list of functions hosted by Mrs. Blair in Downing Street between November 1998 and January 2005.
	
		Functions Hosted by Mrs Blair in Downing StreetNovember 1998—January 2005
		
			 Date Event 
		
		
			 Tue 11/01/2005 Charity—Jewish Women's Aid 
			 Wed 15/12/2004 Charity—Downside Up—Xmas Party 
			 Wed 15/12/2004 Tea—Woman's Own Children of Courage award winners 
			 Tue 14/12/2004 Charity Reception John Soanes Museum 
			 Tue 07/12/2004 Charity—Art Depot Trust 
			 Thu 02/12/2004 Lunch—wife of the President of South Korea 
			 Thu 02/12/2004 Charity—Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London 
			 Tue 23/11/2004 Charity—PACT 
			 Thu 18/11/2004 Reception—Awarding of the Entente Cordiale Cancer Prize together with the wife of the President of France 
			 Thu 18/11/2004 Lunch—with the wife of the President of France 
			 Tue 16/11/2004 Charity—Bristol Cancer Care 
			 Thu 11/11/2004 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 10/11/2004 Charity—Toy Trust 
			 Tue 09/11/2004 Charity—FARA 
			 Wed 03/11/2004 Tea—Children's Champions 
			 Tue 02/11/2004 Charity—Theodoras Trust 
			 Mon 01/11/2004 Charity—Lord Mayor's Appeal 
			 Wed 20/10/2004 Charity—Oxford Children's Hospital 
			 Tue 19/10/2004 Charity—Actionaid 
			 Wed 13/10/2004 Tea—President of Iceland 
			 Tue 12/10/2004 Charity—Turning Point 
			 Tue 05/10/2004 Charity—Samaritans 
			 Thu 23/09/2004 Charity—selection of Charities Mrs Blair supports 
			 Tue 21/09/2004 Charity—Teenage Cancer Trust 
			 Wed 15/09/2004 Charity—DIPIN 
			 Tue 14/09/2004 Charity—Friends United Network 
			 Wed 08/09/2004 Charity—Royal Live Saving Society 
			 Tue 07/09/2004 Charity—Noah's Ark 
			 Tues 31/08/2004 Tea—Prime Minister of Malta + wife 
			 Tue 20/07/2004 Charity—Hope for Children 
			 Tue 13/07/2004 Charity—Hansard Society 
			 Tue 06/07/2004 Charity—Dig Deep Purple 
			 Wed 30/06/2004 Tea—Citizenship Foundation 
			 Tue 29/06/2004 Charity—ParentTalk 
			 Wed 23/06/2004 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 22/06/2004 Charity—CAFOD 
			 Tue 15/06/2004 Charity—LIPA 
			 Tue 15/06/2004 Tea—Leeds Gallery 
			 Wed 19/05/2004 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 18/05/2004 Charity—Norwood 
			 Thu 13/05/2004 Tea—DCMS TASS 
			 Tue 11/05/2004 Charity—MDA 
			 Thu 6/05/2004 Lunch—wife of the President of Poland 
			 Tue 04/05/2004 Charity—Plater College 
			 Tue 27/04/2004 Charity—Harindah Veriah Trust 
			 Wed 21/04/2004 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 20/04/2004 Charity—Mary Ward Legal Centre 
			 Wed 31/03/2004 Charity—British Institute of Comparative Law 
			 Tue 30/03/2004 Charity—Rotary Club of London 
			 Wed 24/03/2004 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 23/03/2004 Charity—Princess Royal Trust for Carers 
			 Tue 16/03/2004 Charity—League of Jewish Women 
			 Tue 09/03/2004 Charity—Pact 
			 Wed 03/03/2004 Charity—History of Parliament Trust 
			 Mon 01/03/2004 Charity—Youngminds 
			 Mon 23/02/2004 Charity—Centrepoint 
			 Tue 17/02/2004 Charity—British Institute for International and Comparative Law 
			 Tue 10/02/2004 Charity—SENSE 
			 Tue 03/02/2004 Charity—Jordan River Village 
			 Tue 27/01/2004 Charity—Seeds for Africa 
			 Tue 20/01/2004 Charity—Liverpool School for the Blind 
			 Tue 13/01/2004 Charity—Cystic Fibrois 
			 Wed 07/01/2004 Charity—MacMillan 
			 Tue 16/12/2003 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Mon 15/12/2003 Charity—International Service 
			 Fri 12/12/2003 Charity—Barnardos Dinner—Chequers 
			 Wed 10/12/2003 Charity—MS Society 
			 Wed 10/12/2003 Tea—Woman's Own Children of Courage award winners 
			 Tue 09/12/2003 Charity—Scope Children's' Party 
			 Tue 09/12/2003 Charity—Volunteer Reading Help 
			 Tue 25/11/2003 Charity—Royal College of Surgeons 
			 Thu 20/11/2003 Lunch—Wife of the President of the USA ( Mrs Laura Bush) 
			 Wed 19/11/2003 Charity—Body & Soul 
			 Thu 13/11/2003 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 11/11/2003 Charity—The Old Vic 
			 Tue 04/11/2003 Charity—Longford Trust 
			 Tue 28/10/2003 Charity—Lepra 
			 Thu 23/10/2003 Tea—National Families and Parenting Institute 
			 Tue 14/10/2003 Charity—Lord Mayor's Appeal—Save the Children 
			 Wed 08/10/2003 Charity—RAFT 
			 Tue 07/10/2003 Charity—Family Fund Trust 
			 Thu 25/09/2003 Charity—Debra 
			 Wed 10/09/2003 Charity—Bristol Museums Tea 
			 Tue 09/09/2003 Charity—Damilola Taylor Trust 
			 Tue 09/09/2003 Charity—Herinder Veriah Trust 
			 Wed 03/09/2003 Charity—Disability Foundation 
			 Wed 16/07/2003 Charity—International Planned Parenthood Federation 
			 Tue 08/07/2003 Charity—One Family 
			 Thu 03/07/2003 Charity—Jewish Chernobyl Children 
			 Tue 01/07/2003 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Mon 30/06/2003 Charity—Children in Crisis 
			 Thu 26/06/2003 Lunch—wife of the President of Russia 
			 Tue 24/06/2003 Charity—Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation 
			 Mon 23/06/2003 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Thu 19/06/2003 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 17/06/2003 Lunch—wife of the President of Pakistan 
			 Tue 17/06/2003 Charity—Freud Museum 
			 Mon 16/06/2003 Tea—Re-launch of the National Youth Parliament Competition 
			 Tue 10/06/2003 Charity—SOS Sahal 
			 Tue 20/05/2003 Charity—Corinne Burton Trust 
			 Mon 19/05/2003 Charity—Hospitality Action 
			 Tue 13/05/2003 Charity—Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology 
			 Wed 07/05/2003 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 06/05/2003 Charity—emmaus UK 
			 Tue 29/04/2003 Charity—Mercy Ships 
			 Tue 08/04/2003 Charity—Colon Cancer 
			 Tue 01/04/2003 Charity—Thare Machi The Starfish Initiative 
			 Tue 25/03/2003 Charity—Shado 
			 Mon 24/03/2003 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 18/03/2003 Charity—Lady Taverners 
			 Tue 11/03/2003 Charity—Kisharon 
			 Tue 04/03/2003 Charity—Terence Higgins Trust 
			 Thu 27/02/2003 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 18/02/2003 Charity—Institute for Jewish Policy Research 
			 Mon 10/02/2003 Charity—UK for UNHCR 
			 Tue 04/02/2003 Charity—Grandparents Association 
			 Wed 29/01/2003 Charity—Police Dependants' Trust 
			 Tue 28/01/2003 Tea—Silver Trust 
			 Tue 21/01/2003 Charity Reception—Council for Christians and Jews 
			 Thu 16/01/2003 Charity—Shakespeare Schools Drama Festival 
			 Tue 14/01/2003 Charity—Unicef 
			 Wed 11/12/2002 Tea—Women and Public Appointments Launch 
			 Wed 11/12/2002 Tea—Woman's Own Children of Courage award winners 
			 Tue 10/12/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Mon 09/12/2002 Charity—Loomba Trust 
			 Tue 03/12/2002 Charity—Roundhouse 
			 Mon 25/11/2002 Charity—Fabian Society 
			 Mon 18/11/2002 Charity—Prisoners Education Trust 
			 Fri 08/11/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Mon 23/09/2002 Charity Reception—Lord Mayor's Appeal 
			 Tue 17/09/2002 Charity—Inside Out Trust 
			 Tue 10/09/2002 Charity—Sane 
			 Tue 03/09/2002 Charity—Sheffield Museums and Galleries 
			 Mon 22/07/2002 Charity—Sargent Cancer Care 
			 Thu 11/07/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Mon 08/07/2002 Charity—Spouse in the House Club 
			 Thu 04/07/2002 Tea—Motorola Youth Parliament 
			 Wed 03/07/2002 Charity—Endometriosis Society 
			 Tue 25/06/2002 Charity—Down Syndrome Educational Trust 
			 Sat 22/06/2002 Charity Dinner—Chequers Roald Dahl 
			 Wed 19/06/2002 Charity—Canon Collins Educational Trust for Southern Africa 
			 Thu 13/06/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 11/06/2002 Charity—Jubilee Action 
			 Tue 28/05/2002 Charity—Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children 
			 Mon 27/05/2002 Charity—Family Mediators 
			 Thu 23/05/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 22/05/2002 Charity—Children's Wish Foundation International 
			 Tue 14/05/2002 Charity—Young People with ME 
			 Wed 01/05/2002 Charity—Cord Blood 
			 Thu 25/04/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 23/04/2002 Charity—Sight Savers International 
			 Thu 11/04/2002 Charity—Oxford Philomusica 
			 Tue 19/03/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 12/03/2002 Charity—Prisoners of Conscience 
			 Mon 11/03/2002 Charity—LJMU Hardship Fund 
			 Tue 26/02/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 05/02/2002 Charity—Saving Faces 
			 Mon 04/02/2002 Charity—Donald Dewar Memorial Chair of Social Justice 
			 Wed 30/01/2002 Charity—Guide Dogs for the Blind 
			 Tue 22/01/2002 Charity—Plan International 
			 Mon 21/01/2002 Tea—Charity Launch AEEU Learning Plan 
			 Tue 15/01/2002 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 18/12/2001 Charity—Barnardos 
			 Wed 12/12/2001 Tea—Woman's Own Children of Courage award winners 
			 Mon 10/12/2001 Tea—Women in Public Services Launch 
			 Thu 06/12/2001 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 04/12/2001 Charity—Kids 
			 Tue 27/11/2001 Charity—Tuberous Sclerosis 
			 Tue 20/11/2001 Charity—Resource for Autism 
			 Thu 19/11/2001 Lunch—wife of the King of Jordan— Queen of Jordan Tea—wife of the President of Romania—Mrs Nastase Tea—wife of the President of Pakistan—Mrs Musharraf 
			 Wed 14/11/2001 Charity—MHA 
			 Thu 08/11/2001 Charity—Kids out 
			 Thu 01/11/2001 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 24/10/2001 Charity—Holocaust Educational Trust 
			 Tue 25/09/2001 Charity—Antaxia Tangliecsta 
			 Wed 19/09/2001 Charity—Tommy's The Baby 
			 Tue 18/09/2001 Tea—TUC Women 
			 Mon 17/09/2001 Charity—Lord Mayor's Appeal 
			 Mon 10/09/2001 Charity—Manchester City Arts 
			 Mon 09/07/2001 Charity—Wyndham Place Charlemagne Trust 
			 Tue 03/07/2001 Charity—The Disability Partnership 
			 Wed 27/06/2001 Charity—Help the Aged 
			 Tue 26/06/2001 Charity—Alzheimers Society 
			 Mon 25/06/2001 Tea—Motorola Youth Parliament 
			 Tue 19/06/2001 Charity—CSV 
			 Thu 14/06/2001 Lunch—wife of the President of South Africa 
			 Wed 13/06/2001 Charity—Spinal Research 
			 Tue 22/05/2001 Charity—Ataxia-Tekengiectasia Society 
			 Fri 20/04/2001 Reception—World Travel Leaders 
			 Thu 05/04/2001 Tea—1951 Women's European Tour 
			 Wed 04/04/2001 Charity—contact a Family 
			 Wed 28/03/2001 Charity—In Aid of the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture's Under-One-Roof Appeal 
			 Wed 14/03/2001 Charity—Variety Club of Great Britain 
			 Mon 12/03/2001 Charity—St John's Hospice 
			 Thu 08/03/2001 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 28/02/2001 Reception—World Women Lawyers Conference 
			 Thu 15/02/2001 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 06/02/2001 Charity—Gingerbread 
			 Thu 25/01/2001 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Thu 14/12/2000 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 12/12/2000 Tea—Woman's Own Children of Courage award winners 
			 Thu 23/11/2000 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 14/11/2000 Charity—National Opera Studio 
			 Wed 08/11/2000 Charity—Bliss 
			 Wed 13/09/2000 Charity—Chronic Disease Research Foundation 
			 Tue 18/07/2000 Reception—American Bar Association 
			 Thu 26/06/2000 Tea—wife of the President of Russia— Mrs Putina 
			 Wed 12/04/2000 Charity—John Grooms Capital Appeal 
			 Mon 10/04/2000 Charity—Chicken Shed Theatre 
			 Thu 30/03/2000 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Mon 27/03/2000 Charity—Denning Centenary Appeal 
			 Wed 22/03/2000 Tea—Whizz Kids Board Meeting 
			 Wed 15/03/2000 Charity—Liverpool John Moores University 
			 Thu 02/03/2000 Charity—RNIB 
			 Wed 01/03/2000 Tea—Community Legal Service 
			 Tue 29/02/2000 Tea—Children/MPs 
			 Thu 24/02/02000 Charity—Roy Castle Lung Foundation 
			 Mon 07/02/2000 Charity—Spouse in the House Club 
			 Tue 25/01/2000 Charity—Home-Start UK 
			 Mon 17/01/2000 Charity—British Red Cross 
			 Thu 16/12/1999 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 15/12/1999 Tea—Woman's Own Children of Courage award winners 
			 Thu 18/11/1999 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 27/10/1999 Charity—DEBRA 
			 Mon 25/10/1999 Tea—War Widows 
			 Thu 21/10/1999 Lunch—Wife of the President of China 
			 Tue 14/09/1999 Charity—Stroke Association 
			 Thu 29/07/1999 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 21/07/1999 Breakfast—wife of the President of Pakistan 
			 Wed 07/07/1999 Charity—Leuka 2000 
			 Mon 05/07/1999 Charity—UNICEF "World Children's Day" 
			 Wed 23/06/1999 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Thu 24/06/1999 Tea—wife of the Hungarian Prime Minister 
			 Tue 15/06/1999 Tea—Motorola Youth Parliament 
			 Thu 20/05/1999 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Tue 11/05/1999 Charity—St Mary's Hospital, Paddington 
			 Thu 15/04/1999 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Mon 29/03/1999 Tea—Daily Star Gold Award Winners 
			 Wed 10/03/1999 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Thu 28/01/1999 Charity—Media Trust's Community Channel 
			 Thu 28/01/1999 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 09/12/1998 Tea—MPs / Children 
			 Wed 02/12/1998 Charity—Refuge 
			 Wed 18/11/1998 Charity—Shelter

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

National Grid Transco's Gas Distribution Networks

Patricia Hewitt: I am taking the earliest opportunity to inform the House of my decision on 27 January to give regulatory consent to National Grid Transco's (NGT) proposed sale of four distribution networks (DN).
	NGT announced in 2003 that it was considering the sale of between one and four of its gas distribution networks. In August 2004, it announced that it had reached provisional agreement, subject to regulatory consent, on the sale of four of its DNs.
	The DNs are:
	North of England;
	Wales and the West;
	South of England; and
	Scotland.
	NGT required regulatory consents to proceed with the sale from GEMA (Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, which heads Ofgem, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) and myself. In considering whether to give consent, we share the same duties under the Gas Act 1986 (as amended). The central duty is to protect the interests of consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes, wherever appropriate by promoting effective competition. The legislation confers no powers for GEMA or the Secretary of State to require that consumer benefits should be maximised. GEMA, but not the Secretary of State, has the power to attach conditions to the sale.
	Over the last 18 months or so Ofgem has been leading a major exercise within the gas supply industry to design new industry arrangements for managing separate DNs and allocating responsibilities between the players; to identify and manage risks to consumers; and to assess consumer benefits, in order to inform GEMA's decision whether to consent to DN sales. My Department has liaised closely with Ofgem during this exercise.
	Ofgem's final impact assessment (IA), published in November 2004, estimates that DN sales would generate a net benefit of £225 million, net present value (NPV) over 18 years (starting from the beginning of the next gas distribution price control in 2008–09) for GB gas consumers connected to the DNs. This includes domestic, commercial and industrial consumers. This is Ofgem's central estimate within a range of £80 million–£500 million. I am informed that, against the experience of comparative regulation in the electricity sector, this reflects a cautious judgement. Ofgem has assessed the benefits of independently owned networks. A greater flow of information about networks will allow Ofgem to compare their performance and thereby to identify the level of costs associated with the most efficient network. Ofgem will then be able to use this information to set more appropriate price controls for each DN.
	I have carefully considered the potential impact of DN sales, including the risk of fragmentation on prices and standards of service; on security of supply; and on safety.
	Ofgem and NGT have agreed to create an "agency" as a single point of interface between the gas transporters and the shipper/suppliers (wholesale traders) using the gas pipelines. The agency is expected to discharge many of the functions and services which are currently provided by NGT for example, information processing and handling. This would reduce duplication, and hence costs, that would otherwise be faced by shippers.
	GEMA has determined the scope of this agency. If changes in the scope are thought necessary by stakeholders, these would be considered by the whole industry and subject to the approval of GEMA. The agency proposals are a key element of the proposed industry framework, and the basis on which the costs to the industry of the DN sales were assessed by Ofgem in its IA.
	The main impact on prices would arise from the new opportunity for Ofgem to apply comparative regulation as assessed in their IA. I have already mentioned the savings to consumers from 2008. There are also likely to be one-off costs of £18 million for 2005, substantially less than £1 per consumer and £8 million per annum on-going.
	The ability of consumers to change supplier will not be affected. NGT's role in the consumer "switching" process will be placed within the "agency" arrangements. Other standards of service by licensed gas transporters will continue to be regulated by Ofgem.
	In the event that NGT do not sell all four of their distribution networks, and there is only one comparator, thereby reducing the opportunity for comparative regulation, Ofgem have required NGT to agree a "safety net", by which NGT (not consumers) would take the risk of a net detriment to consumers.
	Security of supply would be maintained. There would be clear responsibilities for operating and investing in the National Transmission System (NTS) and DNs. The new industry arrangements would ensure efficient investment and operation at the interface. This includes market-based signals for pipeline investment at the NTS offtake points and in the DN pipelines, and incentives on Transco and DN operators to respond to these signals.
	Safety of the public is paramount. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are working to ensure that safety will not be jeopardised. The freephone 24-hour national gas emergency service (0800–111–999) operated by Transco will remain unchanged, and will remain seamless to the public who use it. Transco will remain the Network Emergency Co-ordinator for the GB gas network, accountable to the HSE. HSE will ensure that the revisions to Transco's safety case, and the safety cases from the new DN operators, are robust, and that resources are properly prioritised and allocated to safety case verification and inspection. The HSE will also continue to approve and monitor replacement programmes for the population of iron gas mains.
	Following the work on the proposed sales, I am satisfied that the longer-term potential savings outweigh any short-term costs. On this basis, on 27 January 2005, I granted regulatory consent for NGT to proceed with the proposed sales. GEMA has also granted consent, subject to a number of conditions, under the same duties.
	If the sales proceed, Transco would retain responsibility for the operation of the NTS, and would transfer its four retained DNs into other Group companies.
	The sales are expected to take effect on 1 June 2005 and new industry structure is expected to take effect 1 May 2005, subject to processes to modify and transfer appropriate licences, and acceptance of the safety cases by the HSE. GEMA's consent to the sale included relevant conditions.
	Ofgem, HSE and DTI will work together in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition to the new industry arrangements.